TSW: State-of-the-Art Sprinter!

Written by: Gary Dolzall.

Railroading around the Big Apple is coming to Train Sim World, and we introduce the featured electric – Amtrak’s ACS-64

The “Northeast Corridor New York” route is coming soon to Train Sim World, and the state-of-the-art star of the show will be Amtrak’s ultra-modern and stylish Siemens Mobility ACS-64 8,600-horsepower “Amtrak City Sprinter” electric locomotive!

What is today Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor has been home to a lineage of famous, long-lived, and successful electric passenger locomotives. The NEC’s family tree of iconic electrics began with the Pennsylvania Railroad’s great GG1s, the first of which was constructed in 1934, and the PRR “G’s” served into the early 1980s. Amtrak’s chosen successor to the GG1 was the EMD/ASEA AEM-7, which entered service in 1978 and served faithfully through 2016. And today, the mantle of Northeast Corridor electric motive power is worn by the Siemens ACS-64.

As faithfully re-created down to the smallest detail in Train Sim World, Amtrak’s ACS-64 is both sleek and powerful. Riding on a four-axle (B-B) wheel arrangement, the Amtrak City Sprinter measures 66-feet long, weighs 215,537 pounds, and features a monocoque body and double-cab design constructed to meet US Crash Standard AAR S-580. The ACS-64 produces 8,600 horsepower (6,400 kW) in maximum output and has a continuous rating of 5,000 kW (approximately 6,700 horsepower). The ACS-64 offers regenerative braking that returns up to 100 percent of power to the NEC’s energy grid and maximum speed for the locomotive on the Northeast Corridor is 125 mph.

Siemens Mobility, a subsidiary of Siemens AG of Germany, design-based the ACS-64 on the successful EuroSprinter of which, in various derivates, more than 600 units have been constructed. With components coming from Siemens facilities in Georgia and Mississippi, Amtrak’s ACS-64s were assembled at Siemens’ plant near Sacramento, California. The first ACS-64 was rolled out for testing in May 2013 and ACS-64s began regular service on the NEC on February 2014. To serve as the standard bearer of its new electric motive power fleet, Amtrak purchased 70 of the ACS-64s for an estimated cost of $466 million, all of which entered service by June 2016.

Just as it is on Amtrak’s NEC, the stunning ACS-64 will be the electric workhorse on the upcoming Train Sim World Northeast: Corridor New York route. The TSW ACS-64 will feature extraordinary authenticity both inside and out, with an interactive cab, “cold-start” features, and the ability to enter the carbody corridor to set additional controls.

Accompanying the ACS-64 for Northeast Regional passenger services with be Amtrak’s venerable and versatile Amfleet I equipment. Measuring 84-feet long, with a coach capacity of up to 84 passengers and vestibules at each end, these stainless-steel cars are well-suited to the needs and rigor of the high-density Northeast Corridor. Included with the Train Sim World: Northeast Corridor New York route will be the Amfleet I standard coach, café car, and a car configured for Business Class services, which is offered on many of Amtrak’s Northeast Regional trains.

Stay tuned here at Dovetail Live, as in the coming days we’ll be exploring the upcoming Northeast Corridor New York route, its features, operations, and its full range of realistic equipment and rolling stock! – Gary Dolzall ■

Coming soon to Train Sim World is the Northeast Corridor New York route, featuring railroading around America’s “Big Apple.” Featured electric motive power on the upcoming route is Amtrak’s ultra-modern “Amtrak City Sprinter,” the Siemens-built ACS-64. On famed Hell Gate Bridge, Amtrak ACS-64 646 is leading an Amfleet-equipped Northeast Regional train toward New York Penn Station. Screenshots by Gary Dolzall.

Exactingly re-created down to the smallest detail in Train Sim World, Amtrak’s ACS-64 is both sleek and powerful. Riding on a four-axle (B-B) wheel arrangement, the Amtrak City Sprinter measures 66-feet long, weighs 215,537 pounds, and features a monocoque body and double-cab design. The ACS-64 produces 8,600 horsepower (6,400 kW) in maximum output and has a top operating speed on the NEC of 125 mph. Note: Screenshots show content still in development.

On Train Sim World’s upcoming Northeast Corridor New York route, Amtrak ACS-64 646 makes its way out of New Rochelle, New York (above) with a Northeast Regional train bound for the Big Apple. And on the other side of New York City, ACS-64 648 passes through the maze of trackwork near Hunter Interlocking south of Newark, New Jersey (below).

Leaving Manhattan and the Hudson River tubes behind, Amtrak ACS-64 hustles into New Jersey, southbound on the upcoming Train Sim World Northeast Corridor New York route. To serve as the standard bearer of its modern electric motive power fleet, Amtrak purchased 70 of the Siemens ACS-64s, all of which entered service by June 2016.

The Train Sim World ACS-64 will feature extraordinary authenticity both inside and out, with an interactive cab (above), “cold-start” features, and the ability to enter the carbody corridor (below) to set additional controls.

North of New York City on ex-New Haven trackage, Amtrak ACS-64 646 leads an Amfleet-equipped Northeast Regional train south across the Hutchison River at Pelham Bay, New York (above), then a short time later hustles through the Bronx (below).

On the upcoming Train Sim World Northeast Corridor New York route, Amtrak ACS-64 668 had a deadhead consist of Amfleet I cars in tow as it carefully makes its way into sprawling Sunnyside Yard in the Queens borough of New York City.

Accompanying the ACS-64 for Northeast Regional passenger services with be Amtrak’s venerable and versatile Amfleet I equipment. Included with the Train Sim World Northeast Corridor New York route will be the Amfleet I standard coach (above and below), café car, and a car configured for Business Class services.

Making its way toward New York Penn Station, Amtrak ACS-64 646 and a southbound Northeast Regional train are dwarfed by majestic Hell Gate Bridge. The sleek, modern, and powerful ACS-64 “Amtrak City Sprinter” – and the Northeast Corridor New York route – are coming soon to Train Sim World!

Screenshots and images displayed in this article may depict content that is still in development. The licensed brands may not have been approved by their respective owner and some artwork may still be pending approval.